DENVER (March 3, 2015) – Colorado House Speaker Dickie Lee Hullinghorst has allowed a supplemental funding bill for the Department of Public Safety, which would fund the state toxicology lab and address the current backlog of untested rape kits, to stall in the House. In an interview with the Durango Herald’s Peter Marcus late last month the Speaker indicated that the House would hear the measure yesterday morning. From the Herald piece:

She [Hullinghorst] delayed a vote on the measure until March 2 so she can take some time to think about it.”

Speaker Hullinghorst once again has delayed a vote on the measure for the second time in two days.

“It’s unconscionable the Speaker would play politics with such a critical women’s issue,” said Kelly Maher, executive director of Compass Colorado. “What is there to continue to think about? Untested rape kits cannot be allowed to languish in our state labs. Every day she delays a vote is another day these kits will sit waiting for analysis. Hullinghorst is playing a high-stakes game of chicken with rape victims as the casualties. It’s just gross.”

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